Thursday, March 10, 2011

Yogurt and spice and everything nice

Maybe you ate one too many paczki on Tuesday? Maybe you still want a baked good, but the paczki memory is still too near? Or, just maybe, you really wanted a sweet treat and didn't want to go to the store and you just happened to have all of the ingredients for these on hand? Yes, taht's it. These little spice bombs are just the answer: moist, flavorful... and healthy! And -- for those us counting on occasion -- each one has just  127 little ol' calories.

Spiced Yogurt Muffins
Adapted from Food and Wine

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup light brown sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 1/4 cups plain low-fat yogurt
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 tablespoon granulated sugar

Preheat the oven to 375°. Line 18 muffin cups with paper or foil liners. Lightly spray the liners with vegetable oil spray.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, allspice, cloves and the 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg. Whisk together until fully blended. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, yogurt, butter, applesauce and vanilla. Fold the yogurt mixture into the dry ingredients until just blended.

Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups. Sprinkle the granulated sugar and remaining 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg over the muffins. Bake for 18 minutes, until the muffins are springy; let cool in the pans for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Note: I didn't have any applesauce, but I did have an apple. Peeled it, cored it, and whirred it in the mini food processor. Bingo!

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